MINISTER of Education, Ms. Priya Manickchand has assured that the Government of Guyana, particularly her Ministry, is standing on the side of teachers as it relates to violence that is being perpetrated against them.

In a recent interview with the media, Ms. Manickchand stated that the ministry is currently examining ways in which the issue can be dealt with, including looking at ways to determine by way of legislation, at least a minimum penalty.
“So any person, adult, parent, or student who violates a teacher’s person, either physically or emotionally or mentally, we’re going to deal and treat those matters condignly. We are standing on the side of our teachers on this issue,” she maintained.
Manickchand acknowledged that the Ministry knows that they need to do more than say that they are going to deal with the issue.
“We are going to be looking at changing our laws to provide for minimum penalty for persons who assault teachers. If you’re found  guilty in a court then it wouldn’t be up to the discretion of the court to determine what should be the monetary penalties or even imprisonment . We’re going to determine that by way of legislation, at least a minimum penalty,” she stated.
She further stated that students who assault teachers are going to be treated very firmly, which may include suspension, expulsion, a report to the police, or even incarceration in the New Opportunity Corps.
Role of parents
Ms. Manickchand also highlighted the role that parents have to play in ensuring, through training in the home, that their children have respect for authority.
“…so we have parents who say things very mean and unkind and very dangerous things about teachers, you’ve got to stop doing that because you’re damaging your own child,” she added.
According to her, training the children in the home doesn’t mean that these children can’t have their own opinions, as more than ever now in Guyana children are enjoying the right to be heard, and have their opinions represented.
However, the education minister noted, there are responsibilities that come with those rights, and they’re going to insist that children comply with the law.
Making particular reference to violence perpetrated against a teacher of Wisburg Secondary in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) on February 4, Manickchand said that in her view that is a criminal offence.
The injured teacher, Michelle Richards, 25, was rushed to the Mackenzie Hospital with a fractured skull after a table top landed on her head as a result of walking into a trap set by students.
“You can’t injure someone to the point that the teacher is incapable now, it appears, of carrying on her life as per normal and excuse that by saying that’s its only children. We have to teach our children to be children and to be compliant of the laws of our country,” Manickchand asserted.
In wake of this instance of violence against a teacher in the region, teachers in Linden on Tuesday March 19 held a rally to raise awareness about the violence being meted out against them within their schools.
“I don’t think there was anything wrong with the teachers march in Linden. If I were in Linden I would have joined the teachers on that march because that is what we stand for,” Ms. Manickchand maintained.